Posted March 9, 2010

A dispute over the Bioheat trademark was recently settled in favor of the registered trademark holder, the National Biodiesel Board.

Earlier this year, the NBB initiated a lawsuit against Tarm USA Inc., a New Hampshire-based company that was using the term "BioHeatUSA" in relation to unrelated products. The recent settlement over Tarm USA's unlicensed use of the word Bioheat calls for discontinued use of the BioHeatUSA term within six months, as well as changing its Web site domain name (www.BioHeatUSA.com).

BioHeatUSA sells wood- and pellet-fired boilers, among other heating systems.

"Protecting the Bioheat trademark is about protecting the integrity of the product on behalf of the entire industry and the more than 300 dealers who offer the fuel," said Paul Nazzaro, petroleum liaison for NBB. "We're dead set on protecting the Bioheat identity. Bioheat heating oil offers a better alternative for the environment and for consumers. The fuel and this settlement is a win for the environment, the industry and consumers using cleaner burning Bioheat heating oil."

The NBB obtained federal trademark registration on Bioheat, a B2 to B5 blend of ASTM-spec biodiesel in heating oil, and launched its official logo in 2006. The trademark was licensed to the National Oilheat Research Alliance, which has sublicensed the Bioheat trademark to hundreds of retailers.